Santa Maria Beach
Rating
Duration
3-4 hours
Best Ages
All ages
About
Santa Maria Beach is a stunning horseshoe-shaped bay along the Tourist Corridor between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, and it's widely considered the best family snorkeling beach in the entire Los Cabos area. The bay is a designated marine sanctuary, which means no motorized water sports are allowed and the marine life is thriving.
The protected shape of the cove keeps the water remarkably calm compared to open ocean beaches, and the visibility is often 30+ feet on good days. Kids who are comfortable with a snorkel mask can float right above schools of tropical fish, you'll spot parrotfish, damselfish, pufferfish, and the iconic yellow-and-black sergeant majors within minutes of entering the water. The rocky outcroppings along both sides of the bay are where the best fish action is, while the sandy center works well for younger kids who just want to wade and play.
Getting here requires a bit of planning since there are no facilities whatsoever, no bathrooms, no food vendors, no gear rentals. The easiest and cheapest option is the Ruta del Desierto bus from downtown Cabo San Lucas, which drops you at the parking area about a 5-minute walk from the sand.
The beach itself is a wide crescent of soft golden sand backed by desert hills. There's limited natural shade from a few palm trees, so bringing your own umbrella or pop-up tent is important, especially if you're spending the day. The sand gets scorching hot by midday, so water shoes are a good idea for the walk from the parking area.
This is the kind of beach day that kids talk about for years.
Age Suitability
Parent Logistics
Stroller-Friendly
No
Nursing / Changing
Not Available
Kid Meals
Not Available
Setting
Outdoor
Rainy Day
Not ideal
Timing and food
Best Time to Visit
Weekdays are significantly less crowded than weekends when tour boats descend on the bay.
Nearby Food
There are no restaurants or vendors at Santa Maria Beach, bring everything you need. The nearest food options are back along the Tourist Corridor at resort restaurants, or head to downtown Cabo (15-minute bus ride) for La Lupita Tacos or Taqueria Rossy.
Why Kids Love It
Santa Maria Beach is hands-down among the snorkeling spots for kids in all of Cabo. The horseshoe-shaped bay creates a naturally protected cove where the water stays calm and crystal-clear, making it feel like swimming in a giant aquarium. Kids can float right above schools of colorful tropical fish, parrotfish, angelfish, sergeant majors, without fighting any current.
The sandy bottom slopes gently, so little ones who aren't ready to snorkel can wade and splash in the shallows while older kids paddle out to the rocky edges where the fish congregate. No jet skis or motorized water sports are allowed here, which means the water stays peaceful and safe. There's something magical about a beach where the only sounds are waves lapping and kids shouting "I see a fish!"
And because it's a designated marine sanctuary, the underwater life is noticeably richer than at other Cabo beaches.
Tips for Your Visit
- Bring your own snorkel gear, there's no rental stand on the beach and the nearest shop is a taxi ride away
- The best snorkeling is along the rocky edges of the bay, not in the sandy center, that's where the fish hang out
- Take the Ruta del Desierto bus from downtown Cabo, it runs every 30 minutes, takes 15 minutes, and costs almost nothing
- Pack all food, water, and supplies since there are no vendors, restaurants, or facilities on the beach
- Bring a shade umbrella or pop-up tent, natural shade is limited to a few palm trees that get claimed early
What to Bring
- Snorkel gear (mask, snorkel, fins), buy or rent in town beforehand
- Reef-safe sunscreen and rash guards for the kids
- Cooler with plenty of water, snacks, and lunch
- Pop-up shade tent or beach umbrella, very little natural shade
- Water shoes for the rocky entry points at the bay edges
Hours & Contact
Contact
Frequently Asked Questions
Tickets & Related Activities
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